News Releases - 2015

Alexandria, Va. June 10, 2014 - In a letter to Congress, 130 pharmacist, patient advocacy and business organizations expressed "unified support" for giving Medicare beneficiaries more convenient access to discounted or "preferred" copays at independent community pharmacies willing to accept the terms and conditions of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs).

"Right now, seniors in many communities face either trips of 20 miles or more to reach a 'preferred' pharmacy or must assume higher copays to use a local pharmacy they have maintained a trusted relationship with for many years," the organizations wrote.

Signatories of the letter include key national, regional and state voices, including:

Patient advocates (Caregiver Action Network, HealthHIV, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Rural Health Association, National Grange and U.S. Pain Foundation)

Community pharmacists (National Community Pharmacists Association, American Pharmacists Association, and many other leading pharmacist and pharmacy organizations)

Businesses (Food Marketing Institute, National Federation of Independent Business, and National Grocers Association)

"You have heard of the difficulties beneficiaries are facing when trying to find a pharmacy close by and in their preferred network, especially in rural and underserved communities," they said in the letter. "We believe that this is simply not right."

In addition, the letter noted:

Widespread, bipartisan support exists from 30+ members of Congress and numerous consumer groups for applying the "any willing pharmacy" standard to "preferred pharmacy" networks.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to express strong support for the policy and emphatically reject arguments that it would raise costs.

The following is a complete list of organizations that have signed the letter to date. The letter is posted at www.ncpanet.org/pharmacychoice and additional signatures are expected to be added as more organizations convey their support.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $88.7 billion health care marketplace, dispense nearly 40% of all retail prescriptions, and employ more than 300,000 individuals, including over 62,000 pharmacists. To learn more, go to www.ncpanet.org, visit facebook.com/commpharmacy, or follow NCPA on Twitter @Commpharmacy.